DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Haryana Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana directed officers to promote vertical farming in horticulture among farmers as a solution to shrinking land holdings, emphasizing its potential to generate higher income from smaller areas.

Rana was chairing the second General Body meeting of the Haryana State Horticulture Development Agency, constituted under the Integrated Horticulture Development Mission, in Chandigarh today.

Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Horticulture Department, Dr. Raja Sekhar Vundru, Director General of the Horticulture Department, Sh Ranbir Singh, Head of Department Dr. Arjun Saini, along with various officers and members of the agency were also present in the meeting.

Shyam Singh Rana stated that, under the guidance of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi and the leadership of Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini, the state government is committed to farmer welfare.

He emphasized that the Chief Minister envisions doubling farmers' incomes, and the government is actively working toward this goal.

He said that agriculture has the potential to eliminate unemployment if it becomes a profitable venture. He instructed officers to familiarize farmers with modern agricultural techniques, modeled on practices in Israel and Japan, to achieve higher yields using less water and fewer chemical fertilizers.

The Agriculture Minister urged officers to make full and efficient use of the horticulture sector budget allocated in the general budget.

He emphasized the importance of setting clear targets and ensuring timely completion of projects. He also directed that subsidies be promptly transferred to farmers' bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

During the meeting, officers informed Sh Rana that around 400 horticulture clusters of vegetables and fruits have been identified across the state. Farmers and farmer groups in these clusters will be provided subsidy for establishing pack houses.

He was also informed that in southern Haryana, date palm cultivation is being promoted due to its low water requirement, with a subsidy of Rs 1.60 lakh per hectare offered under the Integrated Horticulture Development Scheme.

Additionally, mushroom cultivation is being encouraged, with a dedicated mushroom cluster under development in Sonipat. Apart from this, farmers are being encouraged to cultivate mushrooms in other districts also.

(editor@dailyworld.in)